Testimonial  /  Case  Study    

Carol  Pike  –  SVP  &  Director,  Corporate  Office  

_____________________________________________________________________    

 February  2012  

   

Testimonial  /  Case  study  Introduction    aap3   are   a   Global   IT   and   Business   Solutions   provider   for   all   business   entities,   operating  across  four  verticals;  Consultancy,  IT  Engineering,  Web  Solutions  and  Recruitment.      Their  main  focus  is  on  customers,  ensuring  app3  understand  the  difficulties  their  customers  face   on   a   continual   basis   and   what   they   aim   to   achieve   as   an   end   result.   Using   a   broad  product  portfolio,  aap3  provide  tailored  solutions  that  solve  their  customers’  many  business  and  IT  related  problems  and  support  their  continued  success.    As  Senior   Vice   President   and  Director,   Corporate  Office,   Carol   Pike   leads  a   vital   function  within   the   business,   that   of   protecting   and   enhancing   aap3’s   corporate   position   in   the  marketplace.   Her   role,   and   therefore   the   responsibilities   of   her   department,   are   far-­‐reaching,   and   include   advising   the   leadership   team   and   senior   management   on   branding  issues  and  building  relationships  with  the  media,  community  and  independent  organisations.  The  function  is  also  responsible  for  Communications  –  internal  and  external,  PR,  Corporate  Social   Responsibility,   Marketing   and   Creative   Services,   Quality   and   Accreditations,  Governance,  Executive  HR  and  Support  and  Business  Expansion  activities.    Here,  Carol  allows  us  time  in  her  busy  schedule  to  tell  us  of  her  experiences  of  working  with  Bespoke  and  the  tangible  value  aap3  have  gained  from  the  training  that  has  been  designed  for  and  delivered  to  her  team.    

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Testimonial  /  Case  Study    

Carol  Pike  –  SVP  &  Director,  Corporate  Office  

_____________________________________________________________________    

 February  2012  

   

 “Professional,   flexible   and   creative.   Those   would   be   the   three   words   I   would   choose   to  describe   the   experience   I   personally,   and   aap3   as   a   business,   have   had   in   partnering  with  Anne  and  her  team  at  Bespoke.    The  development  and  training  of  staff  is  so  important  to  the  success  of  any  business,  but  in  a  technology  led  business  such  as  ours,  where  change  is  inherently  fast  and  the  requirement  to  move  quickly  and  stay  ahead  of  the  game  is  key,  training  –  both  technical  and  professional  -­‐  is  essential.  As  a  business,  aap3  strive  to  add  continuous  value  to  our  customers’  proposition  and  provide   the   right   service  and  quality;   developing  our  people   in   softer   skill   elements   to  enable  them  to  develop,  is  of  equal  importance.    For   the  Management   Development   programme   we   were   looking   to   source   for   our   Senior  Management   team   -­‐  a   large  group  of  highly  experienced   individuals  based  across  multiple  client  sites,  and  facing  those  challenges  not  unusual  in  a  remote-­‐working  set-­‐up  -­‐  we  took  the  decision  to  embark  on  a  tender  process  with  existing  and  potential  providers.  We  wanted  to  gain  a  clearer  insight  into  and  understand  the  differences  in  respective  approaches  to  senior  management   training   and   development   programmes   and   to   select   a   partner   that   we  considered  to  be  the  ‘best  fit’.    Dealing  with  Anne  (Messer)  to  initially  set  out  our  objectives  demonstrated  an  approach  that  we  really  liked  and  knew  we  could  work  together  with;  the  desire  to  understand  our  business,  really   get   to   grips   with   our   requirements   and   the   team   that   would   participate   in   the  programme,  her  (team’s?)  ability  to  engage  with  us  a  company  and  to  offer  a  cost-­‐effective  and  professional  solution,  were  criteria  on  which  our  decision  to  select  Bespoke  was  based.  Interestingly,   the  commonalities  between  aap3  and  Bespoke’s   respective  ethos’  and  way  of  working   –   customer   focus,   value   creation,   ongoing   support   but  most   importantly,   offering  completely  tailored  solutions  -­‐  became  very  apparent  as  we  worked  together.    Working  with  Bespoke  definitely  met  with  and  exceeded  our  expectations.  Our  challenge  was  to  bring  about  a  sense  of  shared  and  common  purpose,  whilst  at  the  same  time  overcoming  perceived   barriers,   amongst   a  mixed   group   of   individuals   operating   at   a   senior   level.   The  techniques  used  as  part  of  the  development  programme  enabled  participants  to  openly  share  their  experiences,  facilitated  by  the  fact  that  the  session  took  place  off-­‐site,  in  a  neutral  and  external   environment.   In   fact,   as   the   Main   Sponsor   of   Southampton   Football   Club,   their  venue  was   the   ideal   environment   for   this   training.  These   techniques  and   learning  methods  

   

Testimonial  /  Case  Study    

Carol  Pike  –  SVP  &  Director,  Corporate  Office  

_____________________________________________________________________    

 February  2012  

   

could  then  successfully  be  applied  within  our  managers’  day  to  day  work  has  been  clear  to  see;   there   is   now   greater   and   more   effective   interaction   within   the   management   group,  which   in   turn   has   seen   the   team   taking  on   increased   responsibility,   allowing   the   reporting  Director   to   focus   his   attentions   on   strategic   issues   rather   than   tactical   activity.   Shared  operational   goals   drive   the   team’s   behaviour,   enabling  managers   to  work   together   highly  effectively  for  the  benefit  of  the  individual,  group  and  aap3  as  a  business.    My  advice  to  other  organisations  considering  investing  in  training  and  development?    A   tailored   approach   is   essential   –   if   you   want   it   to   work!   The   fundamental   development  requirements  are  similar  across  most  organisations,  but  cultural  awareness  of  the  particular  organisation   is   crucial;   that   awareness   affects   how   training   is   delivered   and  how  well   it   is  received.  Tailored  training  and  development  solutions  are  what  Bespoke  is  all  about.”    

-­‐  Ends  -­‐    About  Bespoke  Training  Services  Limited  At   Bespoke   we   strive   to   be   the   best   in   our   field   by   ensuring   optimum   return   for   the  investment  you  make  in  your  employees’  training.    We  do  this  by:    

• Designing  training  solutions  that  are  tailor-­‐made  to  the  needs  of  your  team  • Delivering  these  solutions   in  the  context  of   the  specific  sector  or   industry   in  which  

you  operate  • Being  driven  to  engage,  stimulate  and  change  your  employees’  behaviour  • Shelving  that  sheep-­‐dip,  one-­‐size-­‐fits-­‐all  approach  to  training!  • Being  bespoke  to  you  –  at  no  additional  cost  

 We  offer  a  range  of  training  solutions  focusing  on  the  following  core  competencies:    

• Personal   development   training:   assertiveness,   time-­‐management,   meeting   &  minute-­‐taking  skills  

• Management  development  programmes:  influencing  &  negotiation  skills,  developing  people,  conflict  management,  appraisal  skills  

   

Testimonial  /  Case  Study    

Carol  Pike  –  SVP  &  Director,  Corporate  Office  

_____________________________________________________________________    

 February  2012  

   

• Executive   coaching:   one   to   one   coaching   with   individuals   to   help   set   goals   and  achieve  them  

 Bespoke’s  commitment  to  you  is  an  investment  in  your  future.  

 Find  out  more  at:  www.bespoketrainingservices.co.uk      About  aap3  aap3   are   a   Global   IT   and   Business   Solutions   provider   for   all   business   entities,   operating  across  four  verticals;  Consultancy,  IT  Engineering,  Web  Solutions  and  Recruitment,  operating  in  over  30  countries  across  Europe,  the  US  and  the  Middle  East.  

We  work  with   a   vast   range   of   customers,   from   international   enterprises   through   to   small  scale   businesses,   delivering   either   specific   services   to   custom   requirements   or   complete  business  outsourcing  solutions.  

Our  broad  product/service  portfolio  ideally  positions  aap3  as  a  complete  solutions  company.  Known   for  our  ability   to  supplement   the  current  capability   in  a  business  and  ramp  up  and  down  internal  teams,  aap3  helps  customers  to  bring  IT  and  other  functions  together  to  solve  business  challenges  

We  believe  that  working  closely  with  your  business  and  understanding  your  requirements,  we  can  create  customised  solutions  to  cater  for  your  needs.    To  find  out  more,  visit  us  at:  www.aap3.com